You deserve clear answers when you need help. South Carolina has benefits programs for Healthy Connections Medicaid, SNAP, TANF cash help, energy bills, and child care. Apply for Medicaid through Healthy Connections and for SNAP and TANF through the Department of Social Services (DSS). For SSDI, SSI, or VA disability benefits, start with Social Security or the VA.
South Carolina benefits programs at a glance
Program | What it helps with | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) | Monthly income when a health condition stops you from working | Social Security Administration (SSA), or with Turnout |
SSI (Supplemental Security Income) | Monthly income for people with disabilities or older adults with very limited income | SSA, or with Turnout |
VA Disability | Tax-free monthly payments for conditions connected to military service | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) |
Medicaid | Free or low-cost health coverage through Healthy Connections | Healthy Connections online application |
ACA Subsidies (Affordable Care Act) | Lower monthly costs for marketplace health plans | HealthCare.gov |
Medicare / Healthcare Advocacy | Health insurance for older adults and some people with disabilities, plus help using it | SSA to enroll, Turnout for advocacy |
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) | Money for groceries | DSS |
WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) | Healthy food and nutrition support for families with young children | A local WIC clinic |
LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) | Help paying energy bills | Your local community action agency |
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) | Cash help and job support for families with children | DSS |
EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) | A bigger tax refund for working people | Your federal and South Carolina tax returns |
Child Tax Credit | Lower taxes for families with children | Your federal tax return |
Child Care Assistance (CCAP, Child Care Assistance Program) | Help paying for child care | SC Child Care Scholarship program |
IEP (Individualized Education Program) / Education Advocacy | Special education support at school | Your child's school, or with Turnout |
Disability and income
SSDI
SSDI pays monthly benefits to people who worked and paid Social Security taxes but can't work now because of a serious medical condition. In South Carolina, the Disability Determination Services (DDS) unit of the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department reviews medical and work information for SSA and helps decide if you qualify. You apply through SSA online, by phone, or at a Social Security office. If you'd like one-on-one help, you can apply for SSDI with Turnout.
Official resources: SSA's disability benefits overview and the Blue Book listing of impairments.
SSI
SSI is a monthly payment for people with very limited income and savings who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled. In South Carolina, the same DDS unit reviews SSI disability claims, and it also handles Medicaid disability claims for the state. You apply for SSI through SSA online, by phone, or at a local office. If you get SSI, it's worth asking about Healthy Connections Medicaid, too. For one-on-one help, you can apply for SSI with Turnout.
Official resources: SSA's Understanding SSI guide and what counts toward SSI limits.
VA Disability
VA disability compensation is a tax-free monthly payment for veterans with illnesses or injuries connected to their military service. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) decides claims and assigns a disability rating. In South Carolina, the Department of Veterans' Affairs (SCDVA) and County Veterans' Affairs Officers across the state help veterans and families file claims, and SCDVA can also help with appeals. Turnout doesn't represent veterans in VA claims, but you can learn more on Turnout's veterans benefits page.
Official resources: VA's disability compensation overview, how VA disability ratings work, and SCDVA's claims assistance page.
Health coverage
Medicaid
Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for people with limited income. In South Carolina, Medicaid is called Healthy Connections, and the Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) runs it. It usually covers children, parents and caretaker relatives, pregnant women, people 65 and older, and people with disabilities who meet income and asset rules. You can apply online at Healthy Connections, call (888) 549-0820, or apply at a county office, most hospitals, or rural health centers.
Official resources: the federal Medicaid program at Medicaid.gov and Healthy Connections' how-to-apply page.
ACA Subsidies
ACA subsidies are tax credits that lower what you pay each month for a health plan you buy on the marketplace. South Carolina uses the federal marketplace, so residents shop and enroll at HealthCare.gov. If HealthCare.gov finds you may qualify for Medicaid, it sends your information to Healthy Connections for a final decision. You can apply for coverage at HealthCare.gov. Most people enroll during the yearly open enrollment period, but life changes like losing coverage can let you enroll at other times.
Official resources: HealthCare.gov's guide to lowering costs and free local enrollment help.
Medicare / Healthcare Advocacy
Medicare is federal health insurance for people 65 and older and some younger people with disabilities, and you enroll through SSA. In South Carolina, the Department on Aging runs the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), sometimes called I-CARE, which offers free, one-on-one Medicare counseling through local Area Agencies on Aging. Counselors can help you compare plans, fix billing problems, and apply for programs that lower costs. When coverage isn't working, like a denial or a confusing bill, you can get one-on-one help from Turnout's healthcare advocacy team.
Official resources: Medicare.gov, Medicare Savings Programs, and SC Department on Aging SHIP counseling.
Food and nutrition
SNAP
SNAP gives households money each month to buy groceries. In South Carolina, the Department of Social Services (DSS) runs SNAP through county offices, and benefits come on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. Most applicants get a decision within 30 days, and some households with urgent needs get benefits within 7 days. Households where everyone is 60 or older and no one works can use a simpler mail-in application called ESAP. You can apply through SC DSS online, by mail, by fax, or at your county DSS office.
Official resources: the federal SNAP program.
WIC
WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support for pregnant women, new moms, infants, and children under five. In South Carolina, the Department of Public Health (DPH) runs WIC, and dads, grandparents, and other caregivers can sign children up too. If you already get Medicaid, TANF, or SNAP, you're automatically eligible. To start, call 1-855-472-3432 or begin the WIC pre-application online, and a local clinic will set up your appointment.
Official resources: the federal WIC program from USDA and South Carolina WIC from DPH.
Home and cash help
LIHEAP
LIHEAP helps households with limited income pay home heating and cooling costs. In South Carolina, the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) runs LIHEAP, and local Community Action Agencies take applications and decide who qualifies. You'll need to show an energy bill that's due, in the name of an adult in your home. LIHEAP helps with part of your bill but isn't meant to cover all your energy costs, and help depends on available funds. To start, contact your local Community Action Agency.
Official resources: the federal LIHEAP program and 2-1-1, which connects you with local help.
TANF
TANF gives temporary cash help to families with children who have little or no income. In South Carolina, DSS runs TANF, which it describes as the state's welfare program for needy families with dependent children. You apply through the same DSS Benefits Portal used for SNAP, and you can track your application online. You can also check whether you may qualify with a quick online eligibility check. You can apply through SC DSS online or at your county DSS office.
Official resources: the federal TANF program.
Tax credits
EITC
The EITC is a federal tax credit for people who work and earn low to moderate income. It can lower what you owe or increase your refund. South Carolina also has its own state EITC. A 2026 law, H.4216, changes the state credit starting with the 2026 tax year, including a new cap on how much you can get. You claim the federal credit on your federal return; learn how to claim the EITC from the IRS.
Official resources: the IRS EITC page, free in-person tax prep through VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), and the SC Department of Revenue's summary of H.4216.
Child Tax Credit
The Child Tax Credit lowers federal taxes for families raising qualifying children, and part of it can come back as a refund. The IRS runs it the same way in South Carolina as in every other state. You claim it on your federal tax return using Schedule 8812, the IRS form for the Child Tax Credit. If you'd like free help, VITA volunteers prepare returns for people who qualify.
Official resources: the IRS Child Tax Credit page and free in-person tax prep through VITA.
Children and education
Child Care Assistance (CCAP)
Child Care Assistance helps families with limited income pay for child care. In South Carolina, DSS's Division of Early Care and Education runs the Child Care Scholarship Program. Since December 1, 2025, the program has paused new applications except for families in protected groups: TANF, special needs, homeless, child welfare, and domestic violence situations. If you're in one of those groups, you can apply for a child care scholarship through the DSS Benefits Portal or call 800-476-0199 with questions. Other families can look into free programs like Head Start and First Steps 4K.
Official resources: the federal Office of Child Care and SC DSS's Child Care Scholarship Program page.
IEP / Education Advocacy
An IEP is a written plan for a child with a disability that spells out the special education services the school will provide. In South Carolina, the Department of Education's Office of Special Education Services (OSES) oversees special education. OSES offers facilitated IEP meetings at no cost, where a neutral facilitator helps the team talk through concerns, if both the family and school agree. Ask your child's school for an evaluation in writing. If you'd like someone in the meeting with you, Turnout's education advocacy team starts with a free case review.
Official resources: the federal IDEA website and SC Department of Education special education services.
What this means for you
- Start with the right agency. Apply for SNAP and TANF through DSS, and for Medicaid through Healthy Connections.
- Gather your papers before you apply: ID, proof of address, recent pay stubs, and any medical or school records.
- Call your Community Action Agency for energy help. LIHEAP applications go through local agencies, not DSS.
- Apply for federal programs on their own. SSDI, SSI, VA disability, marketplace plans, and federal tax credits have their own applications.
FAQ
Where do I apply for food and cash help in South Carolina?
Apply for SNAP and TANF through the DSS Benefits Portal or at your county DSS office. You can call DSS Connect at 1-800-616-1309 with questions.
Can I still get help paying for child care?
New child care scholarship applications are paused unless your family is in a protected group, such as TANF, special needs, homeless, child welfare, or domestic violence situations. Other families can look into free programs like Head Start and First Steps 4K.
Does South Carolina have its own earned income tax credit?
Yes. A 2026 law, H.4216, changes the state credit starting with the 2026 tax year, including a new cap on how much you can get, and the SC Department of Revenue explains the change on its website.
Turnout is not a law firm and does not provide legal or tax advice.
It's your turn
You don't have to sort through all 14 programs on your own. Turnout's free South Carolina benefits scan asks a few plain-language questions about your household and income, then shows which programs you may qualify for. It takes about three minutes and gives you a clear place to start today.